Purdue, Amazon partner to cut textbook costs

Students look for books at University Bookstore in West Lafayette. Purdue University and Amazon are collaborating on a project that could save students up to 30 percent - or $6 million - a year on textbooks, the university said Wednesday.
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Cutting the cost of textbooks is Purdue University President Mitch Daniels' latest initiative in his Purdue Moves program aimed at making higher education more affordable, and accessible.

Daniels on Wednesday announced a partnership between Purdue and Amazon where students can save up to 30 percent on new textbooks, and more on used textbooks and rentals.

"The cost actually has been going up even faster than tuition," he said.

"It seemed there ought to be new options that we could find, and we're really thrilled about the product that Amazon has put together."

The Purdue Student Store on Amazon could save students a couple of hundred dollars in addition to Purdue's three-year tuition freeze and 10 percent cut to room and board fees, he said. "It all adds up," he said.

Competition with local textbook retailers will be good for Purdue students, Daniels said.

But online competition has been driving down book prices for several years, countered Tom Frey, owner of University Book Store at 360 W. State St., in West Lafayette.

"We've had for three years a comparison shopping tool on our website that shows our price, and all the digital prices," Frey said. "We've been very transparent, and we've been at market price the past four years.

"It should be noted student spending on course materials this past academic year at four year public institutions like Purdue ... averaged $642, which is significantly below the $1,210 Purdue budgets for books and supplies," said Laura Massie, NACS spokeswoman.

Purdue should have addressed the biggest issue that inflates book prices from Frey's perspective, having the university provide its list of textbooks to vendors 60 days prior to the start of classes as required by the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act.

Ordering books on short notice drives up the cost, said Frey said. He said he received Purdue's book list on Wednesday, and was scrambling to get books in stock before classes begin Aug. 25.

Textbook sales are the majority of his business, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

"It (the partnership) will affect us, but it's not putting me out of business," he said.

Amazon is expected to open facilities in the Purdue Memorial Union, and the Krach Leadership Center on Third Street early next year.

Students will be able to place orders through their online accounts, receive free one-day shipping and pick up their items at those facilities within walking distance on campus, Daniels said.

Amazon will return some of the profits to Purdue.

The university will receive 2.5 percent back on most purchases shipped to the Purdue area that are made by customers who have activated the co-branded shopping experience, and 0.5 percent on purchases shipped elsewhere, Evans said.

"It (revenue) will be somewhere in the six figures depending on the volume of what is purchased by our students," Daniels said. "Any dollars that come back will go straight into scholarships, and that goes toward affordability."

Amazon pays higher prices to students who sell books after they complete a course, and Amazon will hire some Purdue students, he said.

Daniels' message hit a bulls-eye with students, and Jeff Calvin, a potential Purdue parent who was checking out the university's engineering program with his son.